GlynnÕs goal puts Ardrahan U21s on right road

Ardrahan 1-11Liam Mellows 0-12

Darren Kellyin Ballinasloe

A PURPLE patch straight after the restart proved the difference last Saturday as an uninterrupted 1-3 shifted the county under 21 B hurling title in Ardrahan’s favour at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe.

No fewer than five times the teams were level in the first period as Liam Mellows took a 0-7 to 0-6 advantage thanks to the accurate free taking of John O’Halloran.

Indeed, Ardrahan had their sharpshooter in the form of Gerry Hennelly and when he sent over his fifth score three minutes after the break, the teams were level for the sixth time.

However, it opened up a scoring blitz for the South Galway side as they found themselves five points ahead within another eight minutes. Hennelly was the provider for the crucial score as he found Colm Kerins near the end line.

Kerins took possession and turned, drawing defenders, before feeding the sliothar across to the unmarked Gordon Glynn who didn’t need a second invitation to hit the net. Another point for Glynn along with one for Hennelly made it 1-9 to 0-7 on 41 minutes.

In Liam Mellows’ defence, they never gave up and continued battling right until the end. An O’Halloran free and an excellent score from wing back Sean Gilchrist briefly cut the gap but Hennelly’s free and one from Padraig Diviney restored the five point gap.

O’Halloran was again on hand to get two late scores while Gilchrist obliged with another. They did have one late chance to change the contest’s complexion but Rian Mangan’s effort was blocked and, in the end, the city side ran out of time.

Liam Mellows can definitely look at some missed opportunities in the second half as they hit no fewer than six wides, but they were more comfortable in the opening 30 minutes as they went toe-to-toe with their opponents.

The game commenced with a well taken sideline cut from O’Halloran which found the target after three minutes. Ardrahan’s response was swift as Eanna Callanan’s puck out found Jonathan Glynn who created space before shooting over the bar.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.